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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Phys.
Sec. Medical Physics and Imaging
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphy.2024.1445204

Advancements and Gaps in Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning Applications in Healthcare: A Comprehensive Review of Electronic Medical Records and Medical Imaging

Provisionally accepted
  • 1 Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Symbiosis International University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  • 2 School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
  • 3 Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon, Republic of Korea

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This article presents a thorough examination of the progress and limitations in the application of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML), particularly Deep Learning (DL), in the healthcare industry. This paper examines the progress and limitations in the utilisation of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) in the healthcare field, specifically in relation to Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). The review also examines the incorporation of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) in medical imaging as a supplementary field, emphasising the transformative impact of these technologies on the analysis of healthcare data and patient care. This review attempts to analyse both fields in order to offer insights into the current state of research and suggest potential chances for future advancements. The focus is on the use of these technologies in Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and medical imaging. The review methodically detects, chooses, and assesses literature published between 2015 and 2023, utilizing keywords pertaining to natural language processing (NLP) and healthcare in databases such as SCOPUS. After applying precise inclusion criteria, 100 papers were thoroughly examined. The paper emphasizes notable progress in utilizing NLP and ML methodologies to improve healthcare decision-making, extract information from unorganized data, and evaluate medical pictures. The key findings highlight the successful combination of natural language processing (NLP) and image processing to enhance the accuracy of diagnoses and improve patient care. The study also demonstrates the effectiveness of deep learning-based NLP pipelines in extracting valuable information from electronic medical records (EMRs). Additionally, the research suggests that NLP has the potential to optimize the allocation of medical imaging resources. The identified gaps encompass the necessity for scalable and practical implementations, improved interdisciplinary collaboration, the consideration of ethical factors, the analysis of longitudinal patient data, and the customization of approaches for specific medical situations. Subsequent investigations should focus on these deficiencies in order to fully exploit the capabilities of natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) in the healthcare sector, consequently enhancing patient outcomes and the delivery of healthcare services.

    Keywords: Natural Language Processing, Clinical decision support, healthcare, Electronic Medical Records, Interdisciplinary Collaboration

    Received: 06 Jun 2024; Accepted: 06 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Khalate, Gite, Pradhan and Lee. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Shilpa Gite, Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Symbiosis International University, Pune, 412 115, Maharashtra, India
    Biswajeet Pradhan, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
    Chang-Wook Lee, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701, Gangwon, Republic of Korea

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.